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LOS ANGELES — Losing the Philippines in the early stages of World War II was a defining event in
the career of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

The same could be said of Edwin Ramsey. But Ramsey couldn’t admit defeat.

After MacArthur’s retreat in early 1942, Ramsey, an officer in the 26th Cavalry Regiment of the
U.S. Army, joined the Philippine resistance. He headed a guerrilla force of 40,000 men, supplying
intelligence that helped lay the foundation for MacArthur’s triumphant return more than two years
later.

He had proved his mettle months before MacArthur’s departure, when he led the last mounted
cavalry charge in U.S. military history — a courageous action that disrupted the Japanese invasion
long enough for American and Philippine forces to pull back.

Ramsey, 95, whose World War II exploits earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, died on
March 7 at his Westwood, Calif., home, said his son, Douglas Ramsey.

Ramsey often said he didn’t expect to survive the war.

“I look back and think of myself as a soldier, not as a hero. I just had a temperament that made
it impossible for me to surrender.”